June 21, 2018 marked the first installment of “Et Al.: The NCSD Journal Club” webinar. Participants heard from Daniel Daltry (VT), Tom Bertrand (RI), and Dr. Phil Chan (RI) about their January 2018 article related to takeaways from a 2015 New England coalition meeting centered around partner notification services (PNS). The meeting served to address increasing STD rates across the region by evaluating PNS in each state and barriers to PNS provision. Factors such as PNS program structure, DIS roles, and PNS methodology were used to evaluate PNS. Webinar participants were quite engaged with the presenters and each other regarding PNS in their own jurisdictions, challenges they face, and solutions to those challenges. Other issues arose like the prioritization of STD cases, expedited partner therapy (EPT), and the incorporation of PNS into phone applications. It was a lively discussion about a crucial topic in STD prevention. For the webinar recording and copy of presentation slides, click here.

Be sure to register here for the next webinar on August 20, where the conversation around PNS will continue. You will have a chance to hear from NCSD members Sydney Minnerly and Karen Surita from Texas about their article in the March issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases regarding differences in PNS outcomes for MSM diagnosed with primary and secondary syphilis by HIV status. Again, there will be time to engage with the presenters and other participants who are doing significant work in the STD field.